Dimo Southern Warriors lift Army Commander's T20 Cup
Dinesh Chandimal-led DIMO Southern Warriors clinched the inaugural Army Commander’s League Twenty20 tournament beating Super Fashion Northern Warriors led by Seekkuge Prasanna by nine runs in the final played at Army Cricket ground in Dombagoda yesterday.
Defending a total of 159, Chandimal marshalled his resources in the death overs using the experienced Suranga Lakmal and Wan in du Hasaranga as the Super Fashion Northern Warriors were bowled out for 150 in the 19th over.
With experienced Dasun Shanaka at the crease, Northern Warriors were in sight of victory but a miscued scoop off Lakmal by Shanaka in the penultimate over shattered their hopes of laying hands on the Commander’s Cup. Shanaka departed for 34 before Lakmal bowled a toe crushing yorker to finish off things in style.
Chasing a modest target of 160, Northern Warriors were in sight of victory when their skipper Prasanna took the bowlers to the cleaners hitting sixes at will but his exit in the ninth over pulled things back. Prasanna who was adjudged Man- of- the- Series for his excellent all-round performance fell for 49 off 23. Prasanna hit five sixes including two consecutive hits over mid-wicket off Hasaranga before being caught in the deep off the bowling of Suminda Lakshan.
Northern Warriors got off their chase in style when Janaka Sampath hit 16 runs off the first over bowled by Suranga Lakmal but Southern Warriors put pressure by picking wickets at regular intervals. Lakshan was the pick of the bowlers claiming 3 for 22 while La km al, Hasaranga and Malinda Abishek captured two wickets apiece.
Earlier winning the toss, DIMO Southern Warriors got off to a flying start in the first three overs but lost three wickets in quick succession including skipper Dinesh Chandimal, the highest run scorer of the tournament. He perished off the bowling of Tharindu Kaushal for 17 miscuing a drive to long on. Asantha Abenayake played a good hand scoring 47 off 40 to help them put on a challenging total. Hasaranga contributed with 29 with the bat while Gihan Koralage too made a fine 24.